Schedule of Events for March 31, 2012
9.30-10.30 am
Novelist Keith Remer and comedy writer Stan Silliman will speak about their work and craft.
WORKSHOP SESSION ONE (select one)
10:45 a.m. to noon
Keith Remer: The Basics of Thrilling
Keith Remer will introduce participants to what he considers the foundation of writing a thriller. He will expound on the basics of presentation, plot, and characters as they pertain to this genre. Additionally, Keith will share his philosophy on the skills that awarded him the status of an award winning novelist.
Terry Phelps: "What a Character!"
The heart of any fiction, stage play, or screenplay is the characters. Developing characters involves many considerations – temperament, quirks, phobias, intelligence, health, hopes, and values, just to name a few. This workshop will look at those traits as well as numerous ways to demonstrate them.
LUNCH BREAK
Noon to 12:45 p.m.
READINGS, BOOK SIGNING, AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS:
12:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
OCU professor and director of the Red Earth Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing program Danita Berg will lead a community reading of creative work. Workshop participants are welcome to read no more than five minutes of their writing. Books will be available for sale and the winners of the high school, MFA, OCU, and community writing awards will be announced.
WORKSHOP SESSION TWO (select one)
2:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Stan Silliman: "Cartoon Gags, Kwips and One-Liners: A Seminar in Short-Form Joke Writing"
Cartoon gag writer and sports columnist Stan Silliman will discuss techniques and skills used to create cartoon humor and quick response topical humor quips.
Amrita Sen: “Ghazals: the art of Urdu poetry.”
The Ghazal is one of the most popular forms of poetry in South Asia. Composed primarily in Urdu in the Indian subcontinent it deals principally with love but also often ventures into social criticism. Once recited in the courts of Mogul emperors it is now a popular feature in Bollywood films. This workshop will introduce participants to this exciting form of poetry.
